autoevolution
 

Body style: Hatchback
Segment: Compact
Production years: 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995

VOLVO 480 1986-1995 7 Photos
VOLVO 480 (1986-1995)VOLVO 480 (1986-1995)VOLVO 480 (1986-1995)VOLVO 480 (1986-1995)VOLVO 480 (1986-1995)VOLVO 480 (1986-1995)VOLVO 480 (1986-1995)

Volvo introduced the 480 in 1986 as a sporty hatchback and was the first front-wheel-drive vehicle designed by the Swedish carmaker.

While the new hatchback segment started to conquer the compact segment, Volvo was still trapped in its old-fashion school, where its designers used only a pencil and a ruler to create a car. The 440 and the 760 were just a few examples, and the 480 was on the same page.

The 480 project started in 1978, but it was not considered a priority by Volvo's management, and it was postponed until 1986 when the final car made it to the Geneva Motor Show. Everyone was in shock! Worth mentioning that Volvo never had such small vehicles. But it was a different kind of vehicle that proved to be not as sporty as it intended but reliable as any other Volvo from that era. Its pop-up headlights and fixed stationary lamps in the wrapped-around plastic bumper showed much better than most of its competitors. With its three-door architecture and raked-forward tailgate, it created a sporty look.

Inside, the 480 was the strangest Volvo ever built to date. It offered two seats at the front and two individual seats in the back. The wide instrument cluster covered the center stack as well, where the carmaker included the audio system, the ventilation, and several gauges for the turbocharger, ammeter, and oil pressure. An instant and average fuel consumption gauge stood on the right of the speedometer in the instrument panel. That was an unusual feature for a 1986 car.

Under the hood, Volvo installed Renault-sourced engines with or without a turbocharger. The most powerful version offered 120 hp, enough to drop the 0-100 kph (0-62 mph) time under ten seconds.

VOLVO 480 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995
  7 gasoline engines
  • 1.7L 5MT FWD (102 HP)
  • 1.7L 5MT FWD (106 HP)
  • 1.7L 5MT FWD (109 HP)
  • 1.7L 5MT FWD (95 HP)
  • 1.7L Turbo 5MT FWD (120 HP)
  • 2.0L 5MT FWD (109 HP)
  • 2.0L 5MT FWD (110 HP)

VOLVO 480
1.7L 5MT FWD (102 HP)

ENGINE SPECS - 1.7L 5MT FWD (102 HP)
Cylinders:L4
Displacement:1721 cm3
Power:75 KW @ 5600 RPM
102 HP @ 5600 RPM
101 BHP @ 5600 RPM
Torque:105 lb-ft @ 3900 RPM
142 Nm @ 3900 RPM
Fuel System:Turbocharged Multipoint Injection
Fuel:Gasoline
Fuel capacity:15.9 gallons (60.2 L)
PERFORMANCE SPECS
Top Speed:115 mph (185 km/h)
Acceleration 0-62 Mph (0-100 kph):10.5 s
TRANSMISSION SPECS
Drive Type:Front Wheel Drive
Gearbox:5-Speed manual
BRAKES SPECS
Front:Ventilated Discs
Rear:Discs
TIRES SPECS
Tire Size:185/65HR14
DIMENSIONS
Length:167.71 in (4260 mm)
Width:67.32 in (1710 mm)
Height:51.96 in (1320 mm)
Front/rear Track:55.9/56.29 in (1,420/1,430 mm)
Wheelbase:98.42 in (2500 mm)
Ground Clearance:4.3 in (109 mm)
Cargo Volume:5.7 cuFT (161 L)
Aerodynamics (Cd):0.34
WEIGHT SPECS
Unladen Weight:2211.3 lbs (1003 kg)
Gross Weight Limit:3108.5 lbs (1410 kg)
FUEL ECONOMY (NEDC)
Combined:29 mpg US (8.1 L/100Km)

VOLVO 480
1.7L 5MT FWD (106 HP)

ENGINE SPECS - 1.7L 5MT FWD (106 HP)
Cylinders:L4
Displacement:1721 cm3
Power:78 KW @ 5800 RPM
106 HP @ 5800 RPM
105 BHP @ 5800 RPM
Torque:103 lb-ft @ 4000 RPM
140 Nm @ 4000 RPM
Fuel System:Turbocharged Multipoint Injection
Fuel:Gasoline
Fuel capacity:15.9 gallons (60.2 L)
PERFORMANCE SPECS
Top Speed:115 mph (185 km/h)
Acceleration 0-62 Mph (0-100 kph):9.8 s
TRANSMISSION SPECS
Drive Type:Front Wheel Drive
Gearbox:5-Speed manual
BRAKES SPECS
Front:Ventilated Discs
Rear:Discs
TIRES SPECS
Tire Size:185/60HR14
DIMENSIONS
Length:167.71 in (4260 mm)
Width:67.32 in (1710 mm)
Height:51.96 in (1320 mm)
Front/rear Track:55.9/56.29 in (1,420/1,430 mm)
Wheelbase:98.42 in (2500 mm)
Ground Clearance:4.3 in (109 mm)
Cargo Volume:15.7 cuFT (445 L)
Aerodynamics (Cd):0.34
WEIGHT SPECS
Unladen Weight:2160.5 lbs (980 kg)
Gross Weight Limit:3108.5 lbs (1410 kg)
FUEL ECONOMY (NEDC)
Combined:29.8 mpg US (7.9 L/100Km)

VOLVO 480
1.7L 5MT FWD (109 HP)

ENGINE SPECS - 1.7L 5MT FWD (109 HP)
Cylinders:L4
Displacement:1721 cm3
Power:80 KW @ 5800 RPM
109 HP @ 5800 RPM
107 BHP @ 5800 RPM
Torque:103 lb-ft @ 4000 RPM
140 Nm @ 4000 RPM
Fuel System:Turbocharged Multipoint Injection
Fuel:Gasoline
Fuel capacity:15.9 gallons (60.2 L)
PERFORMANCE SPECS
Top Speed:118.1 mph (190 km/h)
Acceleration 0-62 Mph (0-100 kph):9.5 s
TRANSMISSION SPECS
Drive Type:Front Wheel Drive
Gearbox:5-Speed manual
BRAKES SPECS
Front:Ventilated Discs
Rear:Discs
TIRES SPECS
Tire Size:185/60HR14
DIMENSIONS
Length:167.71 in (4260 mm)
Width:67.32 in (1710 mm)
Height:51.96 in (1320 mm)
Front/rear Track:55.9/56.29 in (1,420/1,430 mm)
Wheelbase:98.42 in (2500 mm)
Ground Clearance:4.3 in (109 mm)
Cargo Volume:5.7 cuFT (161 L)
Aerodynamics (Cd):0.34
WEIGHT SPECS
Unladen Weight:2222.3 lbs (1008 kg)
Gross Weight Limit:3108.5 lbs (1410 kg)
FUEL ECONOMY (NEDC)
Combined:29.8 mpg US (7.9 L/100Km)

VOLVO 480
1.7L 5MT FWD (95 HP)

ENGINE SPECS - 1.7L 5MT FWD (95 HP)
Cylinders:L4
Displacement:1721 cm3
Power:70 KW @ 5800 RPM
95 HP @ 5800 RPM
94 BHP @ 5800 RPM
Torque:103 lb-ft @ 4000 RPM
140 Nm @ 4000 RPM
Fuel System:Multipoint Injection
Fuel:Gasoline
Fuel capacity:15.9 gallons (60.2 L)
PERFORMANCE SPECS
Top Speed:111.8 mph (180 km/h)
Acceleration 0-62 Mph (0-100 kph):10.5 s
TRANSMISSION SPECS
Drive Type:Front Wheel Drive
Gearbox:5-Speed manual
BRAKES SPECS
Front:Ventilated Discs
Rear:Discs
TIRES SPECS
Tire Size:185/60HR14
DIMENSIONS
Length:167.71 in (4260 mm)
Width:67.32 in (1710 mm)
Height:51.96 in (1320 mm)
Front/rear Track:55.9/56.29 in (1,420/1,430 mm)
Wheelbase:98.42 in (2500 mm)
Ground Clearance:4.3 in (109 mm)
Cargo Volume:5.7 cuFT (161 L)
Aerodynamics (Cd):0.34
WEIGHT SPECS
Unladen Weight:2222.3 lbs (1008 kg)
Gross Weight Limit:3108.5 lbs (1410 kg)
FUEL ECONOMY (NEDC)
Combined:29.8 mpg US (7.9 L/100Km)

VOLVO 480
1.7L Turbo 5MT FWD (120 HP)

ENGINE SPECS - 1.7L Turbo 5MT FWD (120 HP)
Cylinders:L4
Displacement:1721 cm3
Power:88 KW @ 5500 RPM
120 HP @ 5500 RPM
118 BHP @ 5500 RPM
Torque:129 lb-ft @ 3300 RPM
175 Nm @ 3300 RPM
Fuel System:Turbocharged Multipoint Injection
Fuel:Gasoline
PERFORMANCE SPECS
Top Speed:124.3 mph (200 km/h)
Acceleration 0-62 Mph (0-100 kph):9 s
TRANSMISSION SPECS
Drive Type:Front Wheel Drive
Gearbox:5-Speed manual
BRAKES SPECS
Front:Ventilated Discs
Rear:Discs
TIRES SPECS
Tire Size:195/55HR15
DIMENSIONS
Length:167.71 in (4260 mm)
Width:67.32 in (1710 mm)
Height:51.96 in (1320 mm)
Front/rear Track:55.9/56.29 in (1,420/1,430 mm)
Wheelbase:98.42 in (2500 mm)
Ground Clearance:4.3 in (109 mm)
Cargo Volume:5.7 cuFT (161 L)
Aerodynamics (Cd):0.34
WEIGHT SPECS
Unladen Weight:2246.5 lbs (1019 kg)
Gross Weight Limit:3174.7 lbs (1440 kg)
FUEL ECONOMY (NEDC)
Combined:27.7 mpg US (8.5 L/100Km)

VOLVO 480
2.0L 5MT FWD (109 HP)

ENGINE SPECS - 2.0L 5MT FWD (109 HP)
Cylinders:L4
Displacement:1998 cm3
Power:80 KW @ 5200 RPM
109 HP @ 5200 RPM
107 BHP @ 5200 RPM
Torque:122 lb-ft @ 3500 RPM
165 Nm @ 3500 RPM
Fuel System:Multipoint Injection
Fuel:Gasoline
Fuel capacity:15.9 gallons (60.2 L)
PERFORMANCE SPECS
Top Speed:121.2 mph (195 km/h)
Acceleration 0-62 Mph (0-100 kph):9.8 s
TRANSMISSION SPECS
Drive Type:Front Wheel Drive
Gearbox:5-Speed manual
BRAKES SPECS
Front:Ventilated Discs
Rear:Discs
TIRES SPECS
Tire Size:185/65HR14
DIMENSIONS
Length:167.71 in (4260 mm)
Width:67.32 in (1710 mm)
Height:51.96 in (1320 mm)
Front/rear Track:55.9/56.29 in (1,420/1,430 mm)
Wheelbase:98.42 in (2500 mm)
Ground Clearance:4.3 in (109 mm)
Cargo Volume:5.7 cuFT (161 L)
Aerodynamics (Cd):0.34
WEIGHT SPECS
Unladen Weight:2195.8 lbs (996 kg)
Gross Weight Limit:3174.7 lbs (1440 kg)
FUEL ECONOMY (NEDC)
Combined:29.4 mpg US (8 L/100Km)

VOLVO 480
2.0L 5MT FWD (110 HP)

ENGINE SPECS - 2.0L 5MT FWD (110 HP)
Cylinders:L4
Displacement:1998 cm3
Power:81 KW @ 5500 RPM
110 HP @ 5500 RPM
109 BHP @ 5500 RPM
Torque:122 lb-ft @ 3500 RPM
165 Nm @ 3500 RPM
Fuel System:Multipoint Injection
Fuel:Gasoline
Fuel capacity:15.9 gallons (60.2 L)
PERFORMANCE SPECS
Top Speed:118.1 mph (190 km/h)
Acceleration 0-62 Mph (0-100 kph):9.9 s
TRANSMISSION SPECS
Drive Type:Front Wheel Drive
Gearbox:5-Speed manual
BRAKES SPECS
Front:Ventilated Discs
Rear:Discs
TIRES SPECS
Tire Size:185/60HR14
DIMENSIONS
Length:167.71 in (4260 mm)
Width:67.32 in (1710 mm)
Height:51.96 in (1320 mm)
Front/rear Track:55.9/56.29 in (1,420/1,430 mm)
Wheelbase:98.42 in (2500 mm)
Ground Clearance:4.3 in (109 mm)
Cargo Volume:5.7 cuFT (161 L)
Aerodynamics (Cd):0.34
WEIGHT SPECS
Unladen Weight:2198 lbs (997 kg)
Gross Weight Limit:3108.5 lbs (1410 kg)
FUEL ECONOMY (NEDC)
Combined:28.7 mpg US (8.2 L/100Km)
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